Animal Attacks San Francisco

Two lawyers charged in the death of a neighbor who was mauled by their dogs had struggled in the past to control their large pets, according to investigation documents unsealed Thursday. Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel have long said the dogs were gentle. But many of the newly released reports say the couple barely could control the two dogs named Bane and Hera. Previous incidents allegedly included two attacks on a blind woman and her guide dog. Another dog nearly died after being bitten.

A couple accused in the dog-mauling death of a San Francisco woman have asked a judge to move the trial out of the city. Lawyers for Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller told Superior Court Judge James Warren on Monday it would be impossible to get a fair hearing in San Francisco because of the "general tabloid coverage" and "political overtones" of the case. Prosecutors said they will not contest the change-of-venue motion. A hearing was set for Sept. 14.

A judge imposed a gag order Friday on attorneys and others connected to the trial of two lawyers whose dog mauled and killed their neighbor. Marjorie Knoller, 45, and Robert Noel, 59, are charged with involuntary manslaughter and keeping a mischievous dog that killed 33-year-old Diane Whipple in January. They remain jailed and have pleaded not guilty. On his own motion, Superior Court Judge James Warren issued the order in hopes it will curtail extensive media coverage.

A San Francisco trial judge ruled Friday that the lesbian partner of a woman mauled by dogs can take her wrongful-death lawsuit to trial even though the couple were not married. Superior Court Judge A. James Robertson II agreed with Sharon Smith's lawyer that California law has created an insurmountable barrier for her by not allowing same-sex couples to marry and, thus, precluding them from receiving benefits given to married couples.

A San Francisco trial judge ruled Friday that the lesbian partner of a woman mauled by dogs can take her wrongful-death lawsuit to trial even though the couple were not married. Superior Court Judge A. James Robertson II agreed with Sharon Smith's lawyer that California law has created an insurmountable barrier for her by not allowing same-sex couples to marry and, thus, precluding them from receiving benefits given to married couples.

The partner of a woman who was fatally mauled by two dogs in January filed a wrongful death suit Monday against the two lawyers who were caretakers for the animals. After filing the suit in San Francisco Superior Court, Sharon Smith and her attorneys said that in addition to requiring Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller to accept responsibility for Diane Whipple's death, they also hope to clear a legal hurdle: that of having California recognize Smith and Whipple as a couple.

A couple accused in the dog-mauling death of a San Francisco woman have asked a judge to move the trial out of the city. Lawyers for Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller told Superior Court Judge James Warren on Monday it would be impossible to get a fair hearing in San Francisco because of the "general tabloid coverage" and "political overtones" of the case. Prosecutors said they will not contest the change-of-venue motion. A hearing was set for Sept. 14.

A judge imposed a gag order Friday on attorneys and others connected to the trial of two lawyers whose dog mauled and killed their neighbor. Marjorie Knoller, 45, and Robert Noel, 59, are charged with involuntary manslaughter and keeping a mischievous dog that killed 33-year-old Diane Whipple in January. They remain jailed and have pleaded not guilty. On his own motion, Superior Court Judge James Warren issued the order in hopes it will curtail extensive media coverage.

Two lawyers charged in the death of a neighbor who was mauled by their dogs had struggled in the past to control their large pets, according to investigation documents unsealed Thursday. Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel have long said the dogs were gentle. But many of the newly released reports say the couple barely could control the two dogs named Bane and Hera. Previous incidents allegedly included two attacks on a blind woman and her guide dog. Another dog nearly died after being bitten.

The partner of a woman who was fatally mauled by two dogs in January filed a wrongful death suit Monday against the two lawyers who were caretakers for the animals. After filing the suit in San Francisco Superior Court, Sharon Smith and her attorneys said that in addition to requiring Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller to accept responsibility for Diane Whipple's death, they also hope to clear a legal hurdle: that of having California recognize Smith and Whipple as a couple.